“The Ice Palace” is a novel by Tarjei Vesaas that tells the story of two young girls, Siss and Unn, and the profound impact that their brief encounter has on each other’s lives. The novel takes place in a small Norwegian village where the winter landscape is as cold and unforgiving as the emotions that …
Examples of Allegories
The World According to Garp by John Irving is a novel that has gained immense popularity since its publication in 1978. The book is known for its unique storyline and characters that are both intriguing and relatable. The novel is an allegory, and it has been interpreted in various ways by different readers. The book …
The Man Without Qualities is an unfinished modernist novel in three volumes by the Austrian writer Robert Musil. The novel is set in the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy’s last days, and the plot often veers into allegorical digressions on a wide range of existential themes concerning human nature and society. The story is centered …
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s “The River Between” is a novel that explores the theme of cultural conflict between the Gikuyu people of Kenya. The story takes place in two villages, Makuyu and Kameno, that are separated by the Honia River. Although the villages depend on the same river for water and agriculture, they are divided by …
“The Ice People” is a science fiction novel written by the French author René Barjavel in 1968. The novel is set in Antarctica and follows a scientific expedition that discovers the ruins of an advanced civilization and a couple who have been asleep beneath the ice for 900,000 years. The novel is an allegory that …
Simone Schwarz-Bart’s “The Bridge of Beyond” is a classic novel that has been celebrated for its allegorical style. The novel tells the story of the women of Guadeloupe, who are caught between a colonial past and an uncertain future. Schwarz-Bart’s prose captures the rhythm of language in Guadeloupe and the longevity of folk traditions, spirits, …
The Golden Apples is a collection of interconnected short stories by Eudora Welty, published in 1949. The book is set in Morgana, Mississippi, and revolves around several middle-class families. The characters in the book are real, and the stories are not merely allegories. The Golden Apples is a literary masterpiece that explores the complexities of …
The Spire, written by William Golding, is a novel that has been widely debated among literary scholars. It tells the story of Jocelin, a dean who is obsessed with building a spire on the cathedral he presides over. The novel dives deep into themes of obsession, ambition, and religious fervor, making it a fascinating read …
“The Horse’s Mouth” is a novel by Joyce Cary that was published in 1944. The book is part of Cary’s First Trilogy, which also includes “Herself Surprised” and “To Be a Pilgrim.” The novel follows the story of Gulley Jimson, an artist who is willing to exploit his friends and acquaintances to earn money. The …
The White Peacock is a novel by D.H. Lawrence that was published in 1911. The book is set in the English countryside and tells the story of two cousins, George and Lucy, as they navigate their complicated feelings for each other and the people around them. The novel is known for its use of symbolism, …